Buckle



Dec. 1, 1936. H. P. TROENDLY BUCKLE Filed Aug. 27, 1934 Patented Dec. l, 1936 UNITED STATES BUCKLE Harry P. Troendly, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Buckle Co., Inc., West Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 27, 1934, Serial No. '741,589 y 5 Claims.

This application relates to a slide buckle and has special reference to a slide buckle having a Wire frame and a stamped sheet metal strapengaging portion.

More particularly this invention relates to a slide buckle comprising a frame formed of a single wire bent into a substantially rectangular shape having an outwardly extending loop on o-ne of the sides thereof for engaging the button of a bib of an overall and a stamped sheet metal cross-piece for engaging and frictionally holding the free end of the strap of the overall, the ends of the Wire being held against displacement by the cross-piece. v

The construction of the slide buckle is such that a strap or the like in being threaded through the slots in the frame Will act to prevent accidental disengagement of the button from the button-engaging portion of the frame, the strapengaging portion of the buckle being preferably such as to efiecta transverse distortion of the strap against the direction of pull when the buckle is in use and there is tension on the strap to prevent slippage of the strap relatively to the buckle.

In a buckle of the above type applicant contemplates the provision of an efficient and practical article which may be produced at a minimum cost. The construction of the buckle specifcally contemplates the formation of the intermediate slot from a sheet metal stamping which is secured to a frame of substantiallyrectangular shape formed of a single Continuous wire, the end portions of the wire being deformed within spaced projecting ends of the cross-piece to prevent displacement therefrom.

The lower side of the frame is preferably provided With a looped portion or opening into one of the transverse slots, which looped portion is engaged by a button. The cross barl adjacent the loop is preferably provided with spaced offset portions for engaging the line of fold of the strap threaded through the transverse openings defined by the stamped metal cross-piece, the folded strap closing the loop and effecting a distortion of the strap against the direction of pull when the buckle is in use so as to prevent relative slippage therebetween. Should the strap be of light weight, as in some of the very inexpensive garments, then it may be desirable to provide the spaced offset portions with teeth o1 other frictional means for retaining the strap at its full width. However, in the case of the usual type of strap, where a suicient body is inherent in the material itself to keep the strap in an extended position these teeth are not necessary.

The buckle contemplated herein is essentially a very inexpensive article, which may be formed of the least expensive materials in the least ex- 5 pensive manner. The amount of handling necessary in the completion of the buckle is reducedl to a minimum, Since all of the operations Aare substantially simultaneously accomplished in a single machine. l

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a slide buckle of the character above noted which is simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a slide buckle of the type above pointed out in which the wire frame may be formed of a single length of wire for kreceiving a stamped metal frame across the width thereof to define longitudinally extending slots for the receipt of the strap as it is threaded therethrough.

A still further object of'this invention is to provide a slide buckle as hereinbefore noted inv which the ends of the wire forming the rectangular frame form a side bar thereof, the ends being held against displacement from the cross-piece by means of deformations ofthe Wire which abut against the edges of forked projections wrapped around the side bar. 30

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and, for a more complete understanding of the characteristic-Y features of this invention, reference may now be had to the 'following description when `taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which latter-- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a slide buckle incorporating the features of this inven` tion;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the cross-piece thereof in section;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken on the line 3-3 0f Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a slide buckle embodying a modified form of construction incorporating the features of this invention;

andl l Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 5 show'- ing a portion of the cross-piece in section.

Referring now to the drawing, and moreparticularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, thereon-.the

buckle is shown as comprising a frame designated generally by the reference character I0. The frame is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and comprises a single continuous wire forming side bars II and I2 and cross-bars I3 and I4, the ends of the Wire forming the side bar II meeting substantially centrally of the bars I3 and I4. The wire may be of circular cross section, or may be formed of round wire with the top and bottom surfaces thereof flattened, or may be formed of any other desired shape, preferably that shape ordinarily stocked by Wire manufacturers.

The slide buckle may be conveniently formed on the usual wire machine of standard make, commonly termed a multiple slide, or in the present instance four-slide machine. Such machines consecutively and continuously bend the wire in their various directions.

As shown in the drawing, the intermediate portion of thel wire forms the side I2 of the frame, and one adjacent portion thereof is bent substantially at right angles thereto to form the upper cross bar I3, a continuation of this bar being bent back at `substantially right angles thereto in an opposite direction and at a spaced distance from the side bar I2 to form the upper half of the side bar II. The other portion of the wire extending from the side bar I2 is bent at right angles thereto to form the lower cross bar I4 having a looped central portion I5, the extreme outer end of the cross bar being bent back in the opposite direction at substantially right angles thereto to form the lower half of the side bar II. The end portions forming the side bar I I as above recited preferably meet substantially midway between the cross-bars I3 and I4.

A cross piece I6 extendsbetween the side bars I I and I2 and is provided with an opening forming an intermediate slot I1, the cross-piece dividing the frame into an upper slot I8, a lower slot I9, together with the intermediate slot I'I above noted. The opening of the intermediate slot I'I divides the cross-piece in turn into intermediate bars 20 and 2|. The cross-bars 2D and 2| are preferably of arcuate cross-section throughout the length thereof in order to give substantial rigidity to the construction. However, the intermediate slot I'I does not extend the full Width of the cross-piece but terminates just inside the side bars II and I2, the cross-piece being wrapped around the side bars I I and I2 to form a unitary construction therewith.

In order to present a neat and attractive appearance, the outline of the slide buckle is of true rectangular shape, which necessitates the cross-bars II and I2 being offset at that portion around which the cross-piece is wrapped so that the outer edge portions of the side bars II and I 2 extending outside of the cross-piece are coplanar with the bent-over edges of the crosspiece. This specific offset construction is, of course, not necessary, but merely' may be formed in such a manner if desired.

'I'he cross-piece is provided at each end with spaced projecting ends 22 and 23, which latter completely wrap around the end bars II and I2, the main body portion of the cross-piece terminating prior to the completion of a half convolution, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. The termination of the cross-p-iece at this point permits an action upon the exposed portions of the ends of the wire frame Ill, which will now be recited.

In order to prevent displacement of the ends of the wire of the frame I from the cross-piece, the material of the wire adjacent to the spaced projecting ends 22 and 23 of the cross-piece I6 is upset or deformed as at 24. By reason of the spaced projecting ends being wrapped around substantially the entire circumference of the wire, the effect is that of a cylinder which snugly engages the wire. Therefore, a deformation of the material of the wire as at 24 will prevent the wire from pulling out of the ends of the cylindrically shaped portions, they being prevented from displacement in the other direction by reason of their abutting at an intermediate portion. 'I'he provision of the deformations 24 is Very simple and may be done at the same time that the crosspiece is formed and the spaced projecting ends are wrapped about the wire.

In the manufacture of this construction, the cross-piece is made simultaneously with the formation of the wire frame on the four-side machine, and the cross-.piece is thereafter dropped on the frame and secured thereto in the manner above recited in a single operation, which is very inexpensive and highly efficient,

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the slide buckle is shown as comprising a wire frame 25 formed of two pieces of wire although it is apparent, of course, that the frame may be formed in substantially the same manner as that of the embodiment previously recited, the crosspiece 26 being of substantially the same form and being wrapped around the frame in substantially the same manner. The cross-piece, however, projects outside of the rectangular frame and, therefore, although the buckle is substantially rectangular in shape, still the outer confines of the buckle are extended at portions which may be less desirable in appearance only. However, instead of upsetting, as by means of a punch or the like, the material of the wire frame 25 to prevent the displacement of the ends of the wires from the cross-piece, the ends of the Wires are deformed by bending the same preferably inwardly in the same direction to the interior of the frame. The ends being thus bent out of the normal plane of the end bars, the wires are prevented from sliding out of the cylindrical collar formed by the ends of the cross-piece.

While two embodiments of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and, therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A slide buckle comprising a frame formed of a single piece of wire of substantially rectangular shape having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars with the ends of the wire meeting to form one of said side bars, one of said cross bars having a button engaging loop opening into the interior of the frame and a cross piece extending between said side bars dividing said frame into upper, lower, and intermediate slots, said cross piece being formed of sheet metal and having the ends thereof wrapped around said side bars to prevent displacement of said cross piece and of the ends of the wire therefrom.

2. A slide buckle comprising a frame formed of a single piece of wire of substantially rec.l tangular vshape having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars with the ends of the wire meeting to form one of. said side bars, and a cross piece extending between said side bars dividing said frame into upper, lower, and intermediate slots, said cross piece comprising a sheet metal stamping having an opening forming said intermediate slot and having at each end spaced projecting ends wrapped around said side bars,

the ends of said wire being deformed to cooperate with said spaced projecting ends at one end of the cross piece to prevent displacement therefrom.

3. A slide buckle comprising a frame formed of a single piece of wire of substantially rectangular shape having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars with the ends of the Wire meeting to form one of said side bars, and a cross piece extending between said side bars dividing said frame into upper, lower, and intermediate slots, said cross piece comprising a sheet metal stamping defining a pair of spaced bars forming said intermediate slot, said spaced bars being joined adjacent said side bars and at each end having spaced projecting ends wrapped therearound, the ends of said wire being deformed to cooperate with said spaced projecting ends at one end of the cross piece to prevent displacement therefrom.

4. A slide buckle comprising a frame formed of a single piece of wire of substantially rectangular shape having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars with the ends of the wire meeting to form one of said side bars, and a cross piece extending between said side bars dividing said frame into upper, lower, and intermediate slots, said cross piece comprising a sheet metal stamping dening a pair of spaced bars of arcuate cross-section forming said intermediate slot, said spaced bars being joined adjacent said side bars and at each end having spaced projecting ends wrapped therearound, the ends of said wire being deformed to cooperate with said spaced projecting ends at one end of the cross piece to prevent displacement therefrom.

5. A slide buckle comprising a frame formed of a single piece of wire of substantially rectangular shape having side bars and cross bars connecting said side bars with the ends of the wire meeting to form one of said side bars, and a cross piece extending between said side bars dividing said frame into upper, lower, and intermediate slots, said cross piece comprising a sheet metal stamping having forked ends wrapped around said side bars and an opening between said side bars defining said intermediate slot, a portion of the ends of said wire being upset to provide an enlargement thereat between said forked ends of said cross piece to prevent displacement therefrom.

HARRY P. TROENDLY. 

